Vol. 10 · pages 756–760

735L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : There is nothing to report upon, so far as I can see. We have just begun the work and if after some time this Ordinance has been in operation my Honourable friend wants to have a report I shall be quite prepared to consider the matter. Mr. N. M. Joshi : The House is greatly interested in this matter and would like to have information about the conditions there and the improvements made. Will they therefore, make a report to the House ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have answered that already. 165 * The Factories (Amendment) Bill The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Labour Member): Sir, I move for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the factories Act, 1934. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : The question is: “That leave be granted to introduce a Bill further to amend the factories Act, 1934.” The motion was adopted. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I introduce the Bill. 166 @ Scheduled Castes Subjected to Forced Labour and Begar Rao Bahadur N. Siva Raj : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) whether protection and welfare of agricultural labour is the function of the Labour department of the Government of India ; (b) whether he is aware of the resolution passed at the annual Session of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation held at Cawnpore on the 29th and 30th January, 1944, condemning the system of begar forced labour prevalent all over India and of which the Schedued Castes are the only victims; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1944,3rd March 1944, p. 798. @ Ibid., 7th March 1944, pp. 903-4.

736 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (c) what action Government propose to take to stop the system of begar; and (d) whether the Government of India propose to appoint a Committee to investigate into the system, with a view to abolishing the same by law ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The subject falls under the Labour department, among departments of the Government of India; the general subject is one included in the list of concurrent subjects in part II of list III of the Seventh-Schedule to the Government of India act, 1935. (b) No formal communication has been received from the All-India, Scheduled Castes Federation. (c) Government of India has not considered the question so far. (d) The suggestion will be considered in due course. Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : Is the Honourable Member aware that in the Central Provinces and berar this begar, has been abolished ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information on the point. Mr. K. C. Neogy : May I know if it is not a fact that His Excellency the Crown Representative and his agents have been impressing upon the state administrations that this sort of forced labour should be discontinued, and that this has led to very beneficial results in certain parts of the country ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am glad to have the information. Dr. Sir Zia uddin Ahmad : May I know whether the Honourable Member is aware of the fact that in the United Provices, out of what they call the cultivators, 35 per cent are village labourers and they do not get any benefit on account of high prices. The cultivators do not get them in kind. They arc paid in money and they find it exceedingly difficult……. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : What is the question ? Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : The question is whether the Honourable Member is aware of this fact that the cultivators…………. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : The Honourable Member has made a long speech. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad: I want to know whether the Honourable Member is aware of it and what action do the Government propose to take. That is the question. (No answer)

737L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 167 * Extension of Activities of the Conciliation Officer (Railways) and Supervisor of Railway Labour 394. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state if any decision has been taken in the matter of extension of activities of the Conciliation Officer (Railways) and Supervisor of Railway Labour, to Railways other than those with headquarters at Calcutta, as said in reply to my starred question No. 131, asked on the 13th November last? if not, when is it likely to be taken ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A decision on the question has been postponed pending consideration of wider proposals regarding the machinery for settlement of trade disputes in central undertakings generally. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: Will that take place after the war is over or will it be introduced now ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That is not an inference which is justified by the answer I have given. 168 @ Scheduled Caste Commissioned Officers in the United Provinces Civil Pioneer Force 415. Mr. Piare Lall Kureel : With reference to his answer to starred question No. 111 regarding Commissioned Officers in the Civil Pioneer Force, asked by Mr. G. Rangiah Naidu on the 15th February, 1944, will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state the * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1944, 14th March 1944, pp. 1024-25. @ Ibid., p. 1036.

738 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES names of the scheduled Caste commissioned Officers in the United Provinces Civil Pioneer Force ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A statement is laid on the table of the House. Statement showing particulars of Scheduled Caste candidates appointed as Commissioned Officers in the United Provinces Civil Pioneer Force Units. Name of Scheduled Castes Officer Date and Rank of first appointment Present Rank Total No. of Officers appointed No. of Scheduled Caste Officers appointed. 1. Nand Lal Kureel 19-5-43 2nd Lieut 2nd Lieut. 28 4 2. S. K. Mulick 3-7-43 do. do. 3. K. B. Bhale Rao 19-11-43 do. do. 4. Kshetra Pal Singh Sagar 29-1-44 do. do. 169 * Communal Composition of Civil Pioneer Force Clerks 416. Mr. Piare Lall Kureel: Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state : (a) the total number of clerks in the Civil Pioneer Force in various Provinces; and (b) how many of these clerks are Hindus, Muslims, Scheduled castes, Christians and anglo Indians, separately in various provinces ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Many units are in a war area and others are with the army at outstations and that, therefore, it is not possible in these circumstances to collect the information asked for. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1944, 16th March 1944, p. 1037.

739L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 170 * Disparity between Unorthodox and Orthodox Quarters in New Delhi 493. Sardar Sant Singh : Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state : (a) whether the plinth and ground area, including outhouses and garden, is much larger in the case of unorthodox clerks’ quarters than in the corresponding type of orthodox clerks’ quarters (especially in the Minto Road Area), so much so that, while the tenants of unorthodox quarters raise a good crop of vegetables, lay flower beds, rear poultry, can keep milch, cattle and have badminton or tennis ground, there is not enough open space in orthodox quarters even to lay charpois for an average family during summer, and that the roofs of the “D” and “E” orthodox types are so low that they become heated very quickly during summer and cannot be occupied; (b) whether the quality of materials, viz., timber, bolts, etc., used in the construction of an unorthodox quarter and the furniture supplied therein are much superior to those used in the orthodox type of quarters, the workmanship also being superior; (c) whether the following special amenities and fittings provided in unorthodox quarters are absent in orthodox quarters :— (i) gardens and shrubs, (ii) servants’ quarters, (iii) iron grates in fireplaces, (iv) wall almirahs, (v) fittings for curtains and rings for hanging chicks, (vi) wash basin in bath rooms, (vii) unfiltered water connection in compound, and (viii) Venetian window shutters in the “D” and “E” orthodox quarters; (d) whether no cattle sheds are allowed to be constructed in orthodox quarters below the category “B” while they are allowed in unorthodox quarters; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1944, 17th March 1944, pp. 1217-18.